CHARLOTTE, N.C. — From the roads to the skies, millions of Americans traveled this Labor Day weekend.
According to the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), more than 5.3 million travelers have taken to the skies since Friday. That’s only about 10% fewer travelers than pre-pandemic 2019. Monday’s travel totals haven't been calculated yet.
Charlotte-Douglas International Airport officials said more than 200,000 customers are expected to travel from, to, and through the airport from Friday. Sept. 3 through Monday, Sept. 6.
The biggest crowds of local customers traveling from CLT and going through the security checkpoints were expected on Friday, Sept. 3 (around 27,800 people) and Monday, Sept. 6 (more than 24,000 customers).
But how do those numbers compare to pre-pandemic travel?
According to CLT officials, the number of Labor Day weekend travelers in 2019 numbers were slightly higher than 2021, with between 28,000 and 31,000 daily local customers traveling from the airport.
Peak activity for Departures/Ticketing and the security checkpoints were from 5:30 to 10 a.m. and 3 to 6 p.m.
Per a TSA mandate, all travelers ages 2 and up are required to wear a mask. Anyone curious about other safety measures at CLT can visit the airport’s COVID-19 Travel Update webpage.
As for the roadways, plenty of people were traveling via car. A national survey by Cars.com found that 90% of respondents said they planned to drive this holiday weekend, saying they felt safer traveling in their own car, as the delta variant of COVID-19 continues to surge.
“Happy Labor Day!” a little girl yelled as she and her family stopped at the South Carolina rest area near the North Carolina border on Monday.
“We live in Athens, Georgia, and we stayed in Statesville this weekend,” her mother Julie Martin said. “I think we’re all ready to get back out again, but it is a little dangerous right now.”
The spread of COVID-19 continues to be a big concern for many, including health officials.
“We’re at a bit of tipping point in our community,” Mecklenburg County Public Health Director Gibbie Harris said Friday.
She said last Labor Day, the state was still under an executive order, students weren’t in public school and the transmission rate was around 5%, with low to moderate community transmission. However, this Labor Day, transmission rates are in red, and positivity rates are around 13%. In addition, students and staff are back in school instead of learning remotely.
“I think it’s a great thing,” Paul Hoefler, who was passing through South Carolina on his way from New York to Florida, said. “I think we’re all going to be OK with this ... what did they say, 70% of the country is vaccinated, and how many people already had it? I think we’re going to be OK.”
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But for Lori and Eric Toothman, their travels are not over yet. They say they extended their holiday travels through Tuesday.
“We left our home, ... drove to Statesville South Carolina, spent the night and we’re heading for Savanah,” Eric Toothman said. “Culmination of anniversary trip and planning our retirement.”
Contact Ashley Daley at adaley@wcnc.com and follow her on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.